A New Martyrology, Introduction 2 · Life 6 – Account of trial
Mrs. Gaunt.
ONe of the great Reasons why Mrs. Gaunt was burnt, was 'tis very possible, because she lived at Wapping; the honest Seamen and hearty Protestants thereabouts, being such known Enemies to Popery and Arbitrary Government, that the Friends of both gave all who oppose it the Name of Wappingers, as an odious Brand and Title. She was a good honest charitable Woman, who made it her business to relieve and help whoever suffer'd for the forementional Cause, sparing no pains, refusing no office to get them assistance, in which she was the most industrious and indefatigable woman living. Among others whom she had thus relieved, who were obnoxious persons, was one Burton, whom with his Wife and Family, she had kept from starving, for which (may the very name of 'em be register'd with Eternal Infamy) they swore against her, and took away her Life: Tho, she says in her Speech, there was but one Witness against her as to any mony she was charg'd to give him, and that he himself, an Outlawed person, his Outlawry not yet revers'd, he not being outlawed when she was with him, and hid him away. That which she writ in the Nature of a Speech, has a great deal of Sense and Spirit, and some strange Expressions which were mention'd in the Introduction to all these matters: which she concludes with these words addrest to her Enemies, [From her that find… no Mercy from you.]
Were my Pen qualified to represent the due Character of this Excellent Woman, it would be readily granted, That she stood most deservedly entituled to an Eternal Monument of Honour in the hearts of all sincere Lovers of the Reformed Religion. All true Christians (tho' in some things differing in persuasion with her) found in her a Universal Charity and sincere Friendship, as is well known to many here, and also to a multitude of the Scotch Nation, Ministers and others, who for Conscience sake were formerly thrust into exile. These found her a most refreshing Refuge. She dedicated her self with unwearied Industry to provide for their Supply and Support, and therein (I do in…ine to think) she out-stripped every individual person (if not the whole Body of Protestants in this great City.) Hereby she became exposed to the implacable Fury of Bloody Papists, and those blind Tools who co-operated to promote their accursed Designs. And so there appeared little difficulty to procure a Jury (as there were well-prepared Judges) to make her a Sacrifice as a Traytor to the State. Her Judges the King's Councel, the Solicitor General, the Common Serjeant; &c. rackt their Invention… to draw Burton and his Wife to charge Mrs. Gaunt, with the knowledge of his being in a Plot, or in the Proclamation, but nothing of that could be made out, nor is here any sort of proof that Mrs. Gaunt harbour'd this ungrateful wretch, or that she gave him either Meat or Drink, as the Indictment charges her; but notwithstanding that, her Jury brought her in Guilty.
The Sentence was executed upon this excellent Woman upo… Friday then following, being the 23d. October 1685. when she left her Murderers the following Memorial.
Newgate, 22d. of October, 1685. Mrs. Gaunt's Speech, written the day before her Sufferings.
NOt knowing whether I should be suffer'd or able, because of weaknesses that are upon me through my hard and close Imprisonment, to speak at the place of Execution; I writ these few Lines to signifie, That I am well reconciled to the way of my God towards me, though it be in ways I looked not for; and by terrible things, yet in righteousness; having given me Life, he ought to have the disposing of it, when and how he pleases to call for it; and I desire to offer up my All to him, it being but my reasonable Service; and also the first Terms that Jesus Christ offers, that he that will be his Disciple must forsake all and follow him, and therefore let none think hard, or be discouraged at what hath happened unto me; for he doth nothing without cause, in all he hath done to us, he being holy in all his ways, and righteous in all his works; and 'tis but my lot in common with poor desolate Sion at this day. Neither do I find in my heart the least regret for what I have done in the service of my Lord …nd Master Jesus Christ, in succouring and securing any of his poor Sufferers, that have shewed favour to his righteous Cause: which Cause, though now it be fall'n and trampled upon as if it had not been anointed, yet it shall revive, and God will plead it at another rate than ever he hath done yet, and reckon with all its opposer… and malicious haters; and therefore let all that love and fear him, not omit the least Duty that comes to hand or lies before them, knowing that now it hath need of them, and expects they shall serve him. And I desire to bless his holy Name, that he hath made me useful in my generation to the comfort and relief of many desolate ones, and the blessing of those that are ready to perish has come upon me, and being helpt to make the Heart of the Widdow to sing. And I bless his holy Name, that in all this, together with what I was charged with, I can approve my heart to him, that I have done his will, tho' it does cross Man's will, and the Scriptures that satisfie me are, Isaiah 16.4. Hide the Outcasts, bewray not him that wandereth. And, Obad. 13.14. Thou shouldst not have given up those of his that did escape in the day of his Distress. But Man says, You shall give them up, or you shall die for it. Now who to obey, Judge ye. So that I have cause to rejoyce and be exceeding glad, in that I suffer for righteousness sake, and that I am accounted worthy to suffer for well-doing, and that God has accepted any Service from me, which has been done in sincerity, tho' mixed with manifold Infirmities, which he hath been pleased for Christ's sake to cover and forgive. And now as concerning my Fact, as it is called, alas it was but a little one, and might well become a Prince to forgive; but he that shews no Mercy, shall find none: And I may say of it in the Language of Jonathan, I did but taste a little hony, and lo I must die for it. I did but relieve an unworthy, poor, distressed Family, and so I must die for it. Well, I desire in the Lamb like Gospel-Spirit, to forgive all that are concerned, and to say, Lord, lay it not to their Charge; but I fear he will not: Nay, I believe when he comes to make inquisition for Blood, it will be found at the door of the furious Judge; who, because I could not remember things through my dauntedness at Burton's Wife and Daughters Vileness, and my ignorance, took advantage thereat, and would not hear me, when I had called to mind that which I am sure would have invalidated their Evidence; though he granted something of the same Nature to another, yet denyed it to me. My Blood will also be found at the door of the unrighteous Jury, who found me Guilty upon the single Oath of an Out-law'd Man; for there was none but his Oath about the Mony, who is no legal Witness, though he be pardoned, his Outlawry not being recall'd; and also the Law requires two Witnesses in point of Life: And then about my going with him to the place mentioned, 'twas by his own Words, before he was Outlaw'd, for 'twas two Month's after his absconding; and though in a Proclamation, yet not High Treason, as I have heard; so that I am clearly murder'd by you. And also Bloody Mr. A. who has so insatiably hunted after my Life; and though it is no profit to him, through the ill will he bore me, left no stone unturn'd, as I have ground to believe, till he brought it to this; and shewed favour to Burton, who ought to have died for his own fault, and not bought his Life with mine; and Capt. R. who is cruel and severe to all under my Circumstances, and did at that time, without all mercy or pity, hasten my Sentence, and held up m… hand, that it might be given; all which together with the Great One of all, by whose Power all these, and a multitude more of Cruelties are done, I do heartily and freely forgive, as against me; but as it is done in an implacable mind against the Lord Christ, and his righteous Cause and Followers, I leave it to him who is the Avenger of all such Wrongs, who will tread upon Princes as upon Mortar, and be terrible to the Kings of the Earth: And know this also, that though ye are seemingly fixt, and because of the Power in your hand are writing out your Violence, and dealing with a despiteful hand, because of the old and new hatred; by impoverishing and every way distressing of those you have got under you; yet unless you can secure Jesus Christ and all his holy Angels, you shall never do your business, nor your hands accomplish your Enterprizes; for he will be upon you ere you are aware; and therefore, O that you would be wise, instructed and learn, is the desire of her that finds no mercy from you,
ELISABETH GAVNT,
Postscript.
SVch as it is, you have it from her, who hath done as she could, and is sorry she can do no better; hopes you will pity and cover weakness, shortness, and any thing that is wanting; and begs that none may be weakned or humbled, at the lowness of my Spirit; for God's Design is to humble and abase us, that he alone may be exalted in this day; and I hope he will appear in the needful time, and it may be reserves the best Wine till last, as he hath done for some before me; none goeth to Warfare at his own charge, and the Spirit bloweth, not only where, but when it listeth; and it becomes me, who have so often grieved, quenched, and resisted it, to wait for and upon the motions of the Spirit, and not to murmur; but I may mourn, because through want of it, I honour not my God, nor his blessed Cause, which I have so long loved and delighted to love; and repent of nothing about it, but that I served him and it no better.
A brief Account of Mr. Roswell's Tryal and Acquittal.
ABout the same time, Mr. Roswell, a very worthy Divine was tryed▪ …or Treasonable Words in his Pulpit, upon the Accusation of very vile and lewd Informers; and a Surry Jury found him guilty of High Treason, upon the most villanous an improbable Evidence that had been ever given, notwithstanding Sir John Talbot (no countenancer of Dissenters,) had appeared with great generosity and honour, and testified, That the most material Witness, was as scandalous and infamous a Wretch a lived.
It was at that time given out by those who thirsted for Blood, that Mr. Roswell and Mr. Hays should die together; and it was upon good ground believed, that the happy deliverance of Mr. Hays, did much contribute to the preservation of Mr. Roswell; tho', it is very probable, that he had not escaped, had not Sir John Talbot's worthy and most honourable detestation of that accursed Villany, prompted him to repair from the Court of King's Bench, to King Charles II. and to make a faithful representation of the Case to him; whereby, when inhuman bloody Jeffryes came a littl… after in a transport of Joy, to make his Report of the Eminent Service he and the Surry Jury had done, in finding Mr. Roswell guilty; the King (to his disappointment) appeared under some reluctancy, and declared, that Mr. Roswell should not die. And so he was most happily delivered.